A quick rant that I must get out of my system:
I wanted to be the 1,523 person to write that Curtis Painter sucks and I told you so, but I didn’t.
I wanted tell you after pissing away our perfect season and then playing just as bad against back-ups in preseason, he shouldn’t be allowed to play anymore, but I didn’t. I wanted to tell you that Bill Polian took a draft gamble on an average college quarterback and he missed and we need to come to an agreement that it has worked out, but I didn’t. I have more class than that; I decided to give him more chance, one more preseason game playing significant time to come to my judgment. And I did. He did play better in game number two versus game number one, especially with help from Taj Smith, a decent receiver that hopefully will make the season roster. However, that does not change the fact that Curtis Painter is a mediocre quarterback and will always be that way. Would you compare him to Peyton Manning or Tom Brady? No. Would you compare him to Purdue greats like Drew Brees or Bob Griese (both who also found success in the NFL)? No. I wouldn’t even compare him to Jim Sorgi at this point, a viable back-up who had the leadership to step into the role. At least we had faith in him if he was needed. I mean I kinda miss him (now that he will hold the clipboard for Peyton’s little brother with the Giants). My theory is, find a good college quarterback and teach him to be great, not find a bad college quarterback and think that you can transform him. It just doesn’t work like that anymore, you are either ready to compete at the NFL level or you are not, there is no in between. There is too much time and money invested to waste it and pray for a miracle.

Back to Painter. So please tell me why he is this high on the depth chart? Sorgi leaves and he is automatically number two? We don’t try and draft a quarterback for the future, groom him under Peyton until he is ready to retire, like we did with Dungy and Caldwell. If Curtis Painter isn’t Manning’s replacement, then why is he still employed by the Colts? Especially with the next man up philosophy. Isn’t this the way it works, the best players play and their back-up is ready and able if needed. Now I know it is hard to find a reasonable back-up for Peyton Manning given his talent and skills, but can we try a little harder? The Colts are always building through the draft and with undrafted free agents, so how is this any different? Even a more experienced veteran would be a better option. Painter isn’t ready to step into Manning’s shoes if needed and given the unthinkable that I will not even mention, I think better insurance is a little more pricey, but worth every penny. Ok, now I feel a little better.

With training camp ending and the final games of preseason being played out, we need to look at what we have observed and look ahead to the season before us. A few thoughts about the Colts as we gear up for the 2010 season.

Our defense is better than last year
With the return (and hopefully continuous of health) of Bob Sanders, the outlook is already different and better. Sanders is a game changer and his presence is always felt, like an added extra swagger. The players feel it and notice the difference out on the playing field. Look for some new defensive looks with Melvin Bullitt, Antoine Bethea and Sanders, allowing one of the three to roam near the line or blitz. First round draft pick Jerry Hughes is also looking a make an impact either playing defensive end or from a linebacker position depending on the scheme from defensive coordinator, Larry Coyer. Hughes could be the third pass rusher in some situations with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, which opposing quarterbacks and their offensive line are not going to look forward to. And let’s not forget about John Chick, a former CFL player who the Colts picked up in the off-season. He has looked very good and could also provide a spark from defensive end. Draft picks, Pat Angerer and Kavell Conner, also have looked good in training camp and preseason and will look to add depth to a good group of linebackers. Looking to have a break out season is Fili Moala, the defensive lineman that didn’t make much of an impact last season and spent much of his time watching from the sideline. Coaches have been impressed through off-season workouts and training camp at his improvement from a year ago. Look for him to make his presence known in the middle of that defensive line.

We are more dangerous on offense
With the healthy return of Anthony Gonzalez added to a mix of Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie, the Colts have several weapons for Peyton Manning to throw to. Peyton’s arm is going to get tired trying to throw to all of these receivers, but I think he will manage just fine. This should also give opposing defenses something new to look at and attempt to cover, as all of the above could be on the field at once since Colts offensive coordinator, Clyde Christensen, was working on five receiver sets in off-season workouts to add to the playbook. Joseph Addai and Donald Brown should be able to run behind a beefed up line though they are a little banged up at the moment. All should be healthy or near 100 percent for the early part of the new season. Another draft pick has emerged as an impact player in Brody Eldridge, the tight end out of Oklahoma. Not only is he a good blocking tight end, he can also catch the ball too. This makes him versatile, similar to Dallas Clark; though he is probably a better blocker as Clark is a better receiver. Looking to breakout is Donald Brown, who is healthy after injuries plagued much of last season. I look for him to get more carries, more screen passes in the flat and overall more time in the backfield. Addai is still the number one running back, but Brown should definitely help carry the load.

One last tangent, why is there an argument between 16/4 and 18/2 regular/preseason games? Honestly, I don’t care either way as long there is no lockout. All I ask is that the collective bargaining agreement is settled and is fair to all. If you are going to ask players to play more meaningful games, take a higher toll on their body and a greater chance for injury, you have to make it worth it for them. The main idea is to make money, which both sides are doing, and to put that on hold would be plain foolish. Here’s a thought, why not split the difference? Play 17/3 regular/preseason games and everybody wins. Owners get one more regular season game, players get one more regular season game paycheck and everybody continues to make more money. Draft picks and undrafted free agents get essentially two games to prove their roster worth and starters play most of game three to see where they stand. The next week starts the season and everybody is happy. Why couldn’t this work?

Overall, I feel this team is better than last year and the best team since the 2005 squad. Don’t expect any type of let down or “Super Bowl hangover” from this team, there is too much experience and veteran leadership to allow that to happen. The lose will simply motivate them to work harder to finish the job. If anything, it will be interesting to see if the rest of the league has closed the gap. If everyone can stay relatively healthy, I don’t see why another trip to the Super Bowl isn’t feasible. Only a few weeks left until the regular season kicks off and I couldn’t be more excited. Are you ready for some football?

Kids ask all kinds of questions. It’s their nature to be inquisitive, to want to learn as much about everything as it exists in the present day. I remember as a child doing the same thing; I wanted to soak up as much information as possible. It helps a child make sense of things, to understand what is going on around them. My daughter asks questions all the time. What is this? What are they doing? Why does this happen? I try and give her a straight forward answer, “adult answers”, if you will. But sometimes I have to make it easier for her to understand, she is only two years old after all. It is amazing though at this tender age what she comprehends, especially the words and phrases that she uses. One minute she will say something that I am surprised she even understands and the next minute would best be described as simply a child’s imagination. It may not make much sense to me, but to her it does completely. So the question is, what does this have to do with football?

Well, if you are an NFL fan, you have spent the last four or five months asking all kinds of questions about your team and trying to make sense of a busy off-season. Did they have a good draft? Did they do well in free agency? Did they have any significant off-season injuries or surgeries for key players? Training camps are ready to start around the league and naturally we all have questions about our teams. I do as well, so here are some unanswered questions going into training camp that could have a lot to say about how the 2010 season plays out.

Brett Favre, to play or retire?
What has become the annual test of annoyance for every football fan during the spring and summer months, will Brett Favre play one more season or is he finally going to call it career? I even wrote my opinion of this a couple months ago, http://www.12thhorseman.com/2010/05/its-time-to-retire-brett/. So whether he does or doesn’t retire, I am sure this will be a much talked about topic throughout the sports world. I would say try to ignore this until it actually happens, which could be this year, it could be next year, or it could be 2020, nobody knows (or cares anymore).

How will the Ravens deal with losing Ed Reed for part of the season?
It was recently reported that Ravens safety Ed Reed would be placed on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list for training camp and could start the season there as well. He had off-season hip surgery and is still in the process of rehabilitation. If he does indeed begin the season on the PUP list, it effectively means he will miss the first six games of the season, able to return in late October. This will drastically impact a very good, but aging defense that could be near the end of a decade of dominance as one of the league’s top defenses.

How much will Donovan McNabb impact his new team, the Washington Redskins?
Donovan McNabb was traded in the off-season to the Washington Redskins, but staying put in the NFC East. He gets a fresh start and a new coach (newly hired Mike Shanahan), but will he be able to take his new team to the promised land? It remains to be seen since we don’t know if McNabb had a poor coach (Andy Reid) or if he just simply didn’t have the personnel around him (I tend to think it was the former). Mike Shanahan is a good coach, but maybe a little past his prime. He won his Super Bowls with dominant teams including the likes of John Elway and Terrell Davis, so we will see how far Shanahan and McNabb can take this team.

Who will the Steelers play at quarterback during Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension?
Due to his off-field actions, Ben Roethlisberger has been suspended for the first six games of the 2010 season. Commissioner Goodell may reduce the sentence by two games if he complies with all policies without incident. Either way, the Steelers are asking one of their back-up quarterbacks, Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon, or Charlie Batch to step up and produce a winning record over the first six games. I think if the Steelers find a way to win at least one or two of these games, they might have a chance to make the playoffs, but most likely as a wild card. If they don’t, I would say that Mike Tomlin’s job would be in jeopardy, except that he just signed an extension through 2012. Plus Steeler Nation might get ugly if the team misses the playoffs again.

How will Terrell Owen’s fit with the Cincinnati Bengals?
What would the news be without something about Terrell Owens? The same as Brett Favre, but I digress. TO has just signed a one-year deal with the Bengals that matches positions and egos with Chad Ochocinco. I kind of wish he would have gone to the Jets since they will appear on “Hard Knocks”, just for the unintentional comedy alone. (We will get to the Jets on “Hard Knocks” shortly). If ever there was a worse fit for Owens, it is Cincinnati with Ochocinco. I don’t see this playing out well, one big mouth trying to one up the other big mouth. However on a comedy scale, it has endless possibilities. My question is, did the Bengals execs really sit back and think, “There is no way this fails, right?” This will totally work with these guys, right? Either way, it’s going to be fun to watch week to week.

Which rookie quarterback makes the biggest impact this season?
Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, Jimmy Clausen and Tim Tebow. All NFL rookie quarterbacks. All should see some playing time. But which will mean the most to his team in 2010? Sam Bradford, the number one overall pick, has a chance to start right away in St. Louis. Colt McCoy will be a back-up behind free-agent signed Jake Delhomme for Cleveland. Tim Tebow will probably play in different situations, but will back-up starter Kyle Orton. Jimmy Clausen is currently a back-up on the depth chart, but may get his chance to play mid-season depending on Carolina’s record through the first eight games. This will be interesting to see which rookie can handle the NFL pressure. Which player will become the next Peyton Manning or Tom Brady and which becomes the next Ryan Leif or JaMarcus Russell?

Mike Martz, good or bad for the Bears offense?
Mike Martz was the master behind “The Greatest Show on Turf” with the St. Louis Rams. His offensive schemes were new, different, pass happy and hard to stop. But eventually defensive coordinators figured out how to stop it. This is not the same Mike Martz from a decade ago, he is not going to surprise anyone with his crazy offensive schemes. The question is does he have the weapons on the Bears like he did with the Rams? I don’t believe the Bears have the receivers that were such an important component of Martz’s high-octane offense. The Bears are more of a balanced offensive team, equally running and passing. They rely more on their defense to make stops and score points so that the offense does not have to carry the heavy load. Martz has turned around a few NFL teams, but I do not believe the Bears can become the offensive juggernaut he has so accustomed to creating. This will be interesting to watch in the weeks to come.

Chris Johnson’s new contract, solution or distraction for 2010?
Chris Johnson wants a long-term deal. And why shouldn’t he after rushing for over 2,000 yards last season, I would say he is entitled to a little pay bump. The question is how does this affect his play during 2010? Is he going to play as if this is a contract year or is he going to rest on his laurels from 2009? I can see this going either way, especially since he said he would take the short-term deal for now just so he would be under contract. Will the real Chris Johnson please stand up? This season’s performance will determine if indeed he is a talented running back or if last season was just a fluke. Let’s check back on his progress, say about Week 8.

Jets + “Hard Knocks” = Distractions?
As if the New York Jets haven’t had enough exposure to the NFL world over the past year. Their coach is an attention hound who likes to make bold and crass statements. The team reached the AFC title game last year, which only fueled the fire of exposure, much to the delight of their coach. The Jets had the number one rated defense in the league last year, but in the end was no match for a Peyton Manning led offense. So if you have this momentum from last year and a feeling that you unfortunately came up short to your potential, you naturally turn your training camp into a reality show, right? I cannot think of any way to make this a worse idea, scratch that, TO could have signed a deal to play for the Jets and been a part of the show (see above for another disaster in the making). I understand why Rex Ryan is putting his team on this show, he is all about this type of thing, flashy and in your face. He is even quoted as saying, “The buzz is this is the team to beat.” Let’s not get too cocky there Rex. I think the likes of the Colts, Patriots and every other AFC team might have a little something to say about that.

Is Albert Haynesworth happy yet?
Albert Haynesworth signed a huge contract (7 years, $100 million) with the Washington Redskins, only after playing for a year, he has demanded a trade due to a change in their defensive scheme. This drew the ire of fans and teammates alike since it came after collecting his $21 million dollar bonus as a part of his contract. The Redskins will be shifting to a 3-4 defensive scheme, essentially meaning that Haynesworth will be required to play more nose tackle instead of defensive end in the 4-3 scheme that he is accustomed to. He has reported dropped 30-40 pounds in the offseason but must also pass a conditioning test as a requirement of new coach Mike Shanahan before he will return to the field. With buzz about a new coach and new quarterback, will this be a distraction that takes its toll on the team early in the season?

Is Wes Welker healthy?
Wes Welker knee is one the main concerns for the Patriots as they enter training camp. The team must decide if he will begin training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list, so it is unsure of how much practice he will be able to do as he recovers from that serious knee injury. If they do not put him on the PUP list for training camp, he will be ineligible to go on the regular season PUP list. So if they do indeed place him on the PUP list to start the season, he will miss the team’s first six games. Coach Bill Belichick doesn’t like to show his hand especially with injuries, so expect that decision to come right before training camp starts. Either way this becomes a huge concern for the Patriots who could be without Brady’s go-to-guy to start the season.

Are the Cardinals in trouble without Warner and Boldin?
The Arizona Cardinals are facing a transition season. They have lost Kurt Warner, who retired at season end and Anquan Boldin via trade with the Baltimore Ravens for a couple of draft picks. Now Matt Leinart will take over the offense, which still have number one receiver Larry Fitzgerald, but it’s going to be tougher to put points on the board. They are now much younger and less experienced without the leadership of Kurt Warner. Another bright spot, is that of free-agent addition of Alan Faneca, who adds quality to a pretty good offensive line and most certainly has something to prove after being let go by the New York Jets. But if Leinart can’t produce numbers like Warner, it might be a long season. The good news is they still play in the NFC West and still can defend their division title.

Is New Orleans for real?
The Super Bowl hangover. Every team has heard the phrase and thought it is not going to happen to our team. And you couldn’t blame the Saints if it happens, they put an entire city on their back and brought them their first championship. Drew Brees has put himself into the mix of upper crust NFL quarterbacks, this I am sure of. As for the rest of the team, I still have a lot of questions. The had a great season last year, but having the same domination year after year is tough. Much like Chris Johnson, they have to prove it was no fluke. And sometimes that is the hardest thing to do. It’s a roller coaster ride of success. It is hard to do it once, but even harder to do it again, especially in consecutive seasons.

Well as always, training camp officially begins the new NFL season. Everyone starts with the same goal, to win the Super Bowl. Anything less is not good enough. Lets see how these questions are answered throughout camp and the early part of the season. So get your football gear out of the closet, your tailgate equipment dusted off and your fantasy football team ready. In just a short month or so, the regular season will officially commence.

As I get ready for the new NFL season to start (training camps start in just a few weeks), my attention is drawn to free agency and how much it has changed in sports today. There is no loyalty anymore; it is about chasing dollar signs instead of championships. Player’s attitudes are more set to the mode of sure championships are nice, but I have to get paid, first and foremost. Championships do not seem like the ultimate goal, or maybe they are just now placed a close second. Doesn’t the competitive nature in an athlete want that more than anything, to be on top, to be considered the best, to be a champion? It just seems like a complete reversal from when I was growing up. Michael Jordan, for example, was a competitive bastard that hated to lose at anything, basketball, golf with buddies, playing cards on the plane; it didn’t matter. He would rather humiliate you than lose to you. That is why I am miffed about the world of sports today. What happened to athletes like Jordan that went out every night to take it to you, just to say that they beat you? Now it’s even a rarity for an athlete to stay in one place, unless he is a franchise player; that has become the way of the land, I like to refer to it as “contracts over championships”.

Look I get it, as an athlete you sign a contract for a certain span of time and the term “free agent” means you are free to go somewhere else if you so desire. I just think that athletes today don’t have the sense of loyalty to a team to win a championship for your fans, the people that support you unconditionally. They go for the money and don’t think about the ramifications that they leave behind. Take the recent situation with LeBron James. It’s not that he left the Cavs, but it is the way he did it. He grew up in Ohio, won state basketball titles in high school, played for Cleveland for seven years, (I would guess) knows the history of major sports in Cleveland and Ohio and yet he still left in a televised broadcast, or a la a big middle finger to his fans. He was one of the most popular players in the NBA and now he has became a villain of sorts. Had he stayed in Cleveland, won a championship or two, his legacy in history sits next to the likes of Jordan, Bird, Russell and Magic. But because his exit strategy was ill conceived his legacy is likely tarnished, even if he goes on to win a championship or two with the Miami Heat. In his mind, this was his best chance to win and you can’t blame a guy for wanting to win. But he was winning; the Cavs had the NBA’s best record the past few seasons. It unfortunately did not equal championships though. And to answer the question about money, yes in this case he took less (but what’s $15 million to a guy who has a new contract for $115 million). However, had he stayed and won in Cleveland, history would likely paint a different picture of him.

So what is so different about free agency in today’s sports world? As I stated earlier, it’s about contracts over championships, making the most money you can in sometimes a short career. The lack of loyalty to one team or certain city, what’s wrong with playing in one place for one team? The lack of a legacy or building one’s legacy in the sport that you play, would you rather be remembered as one of the greats for the number of banners hanging up or for the wealthiest contract? Contracts used to follow championships, it seemed like the natural order, you win, and you get a bigger contract. Today it’s the opposite, if you have enough big contracts, you get championships, right? Well, not necessarily. Teams that try to essentially buy a championship with high-priced and sometimes overpriced free agents, usually are just wasting money. And ironically guys who are in the last year of their contract usually play better, a showcase of their talents to potential or uninformed suitors. It’s a shame for athletes to do this, but such is the world of contracts over championships.

What does this have to do with the NFL? Tom Brady becomes a free agent at the end of the 2010 season. Will he even be able to test the market? That answer is an obvious no, he is a franchise quarterback and no way that Patriots owner Robert Kraft would let him leave, in fact he would be evaluated for mental illness if he did. Albert Haynesworth played his way with Tennessee into a huge contract (7 years, $100 million) with the Washington Redskins, only after a year he has demanded a trade due to a change in their defensive scheme. Brett Favre had a chance to cement his legacy in Green Bay, but after faux retirement attempts and stints with two different teams that is dwindling. (And yes, I am going to continue to bust his balls until he finally retires).

And what about the Colts? Peyton Manning’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2010 season. Fear not Colts fans, Mr. Irsay is set to make him the highest paid player in the NFL. And he has definitely earned his money over the last 10 plus years. Gary Brackett is set to finish his career with the Colts after signing a five-year/ $33 million dollar contract. Antoine Bethea earned his new contact, four-year/$27 million dollars, by becoming one of the best safeties in the NFL. Charlie Johnson, one-year/$1.8 million; Antonio Johnson, one-year/$1.6 million; and Daniel Muir, one-year/$1.8 million; signed new tenders to remain important pieces with the team. Unfortunately, Reggie Wayne and Robert Mathis, who both have two years remaining on their respective contracts, want new deals. I believe Reggie Wayne has a legitimate beef since he is one of the games top receivers, but in terms of salary is somewhere in the middle of the pack. I don’t see him going anywhere, especially if he continues to play at a high level. Mathis, on the other hand, benefits from Dwight Freeney’s presence, so I just think it would be a tougher sell, especially with the Colts first-round draft pick DE Jerry Hughes. I would like the Colts to keep Mathis, but I just don’t know if it is in the cards.

So the Colts have several players in the next few years whose contracts expire including Joseph Addai, Adam Vinatieri, Melvin Bullitt and several offensive and defensive lineman. Whether all or which select players are retained is to be determined based on several factors, including when the new collective bargaining agreement is reached. So with a few weeks until training camp starts, let’s worry about what is most important, getting ready for the season and chasing championships instead of contracts, returning to the Super Bowl, and hopefully this time with a shiny Lombardi trophy in hand.

The NFL has recently announced that the 2014 Super Bowl will be played in New York at the new Meadowlands Stadium, home to the AFC New York Jets and NFC New York Giants. This is somewhat surprising, but not a shock by any means. New York has the largest media market and is home to its headquarters in downtown Manhattan. It is a unique opportunity for the league, which traditionally awards the Super Bowl to warm weather host cities or until recently, cold weather cities with new stadiums with a roof or dome. Plus, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the success of the 2014 Super Bowl would determine whether more championships are played at cold-weather sites. My brother-in-law recently asked me what I thought about the subject and after talking through several points; here are some pros and cons.

Pros
The 1958 NFL championship, dubbed “The Greatest Game Ever Played” was played on a bitter cold Sunday night at Yankee Stadium.
It brings memories of “the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field” in early Super Bowls. If you are for nostalgia, this has all the makings for a distinct place in history. Old school football, in the freezing temperatures, like it was once played. This game would be a mix between modern and historic, the future meets the past, if you will. Maybe we can even get the teams to wear throwback jerseys to add to the effect.

A unique opportunity for the NFL to showcase why it is the leader above all other sports.
The Super Bowl is the top-watched sporting event every year and football in general the top-watched sport. The NFL is a model of marketing and meeting the demand of its product. Why do you think they constantly update technologies so we can see and hear every aspect of this glorious game? Digital and hi-definition televisions, ability to manage your fantasy teams from your phone or computer, on-field cameras to capture the action, the list goes on and on. Now in the center of the nation’s largest media market, comes the biggest game on the absolute biggest stage, live from the Big Apple.

The distinct possibility to have the host teams playing one another for the championship.
With the Jets in the AFC and the Giants in the NFC, all I am saying is that it could happen, it does not necessarily mean it will. Both have decent teams, the Jets went to the AFC championship last year and the Giants won the Super Bowl two years ago. It is just an interesting wrinkle that could only happen in New York that has two host teams. For the record, I don’t want to see this happen; it would have shades of the Yankees/Mets World Series in 2000, no one for the most part outside of the general New York area invested in who won or lost.

Cons
It’s cold; the average temperature in late January/early February is between 22 and 37 degrees.
Most people that go to the Super Bowl treat it as a vacation, bring a lot of sunscreen and enjoy the warm weather. I don’t know about you, but I have the cold winter at home, right out my front door. So I guess this will turn a lot of people off, especially cold-weather team fans who want to enjoy a trip to Florida or San Diego, not traveling from one cold-weather city to another. Some fans will tell you they don’t care if their team is in the Super Bowl, but I guess they will quietly wish that they were wearing a Bermuda shirt instead of a heavy overcoat and gloves.

Dealing with the elements means dealing with a lot more problems.
With cold weather comes snow and possibly ice and weather could effect more than just the game. Getting around the city, flights to and from the airport and different events during Super Bowl week could be affected. This is another issue that many fans don’t want to deal with; cold weather makes people want to stay in hotel rooms, not out doing things in the city, even if it is New York. I would guess the money that people normally spend would be limited due to this fact. And if weather affects people getting to the game, it might not be the intimate scene the NFL is hoping for, an old-school championship in the cold, but rather a bitter cold, partially empty stadium. But I guess that means that the sports bars will be packed (so maybe the money would be spent anyway).

Owners in other cold-weather cities will ask the question, why not us?
Daniel Snyder (Washington Redskins owner) was one of the first owners to speak up to say he wanted his stadium, FedEx Field, one of the NFL’s largest, to host the Super Bowl. When asked for his comment on the 2014 New York Super Bowl he is quoted as saying, “it’s warmer in Washington DC and you can quote me on that”. And Robert Kraft (New England Patriots owner), when asked the same question, “Football should be played in the elements”. Kraft, though was surprising not bitter about the small possibility of hosting a Super Bowl in the equally cold winter conditions of New England. He stated that that was the very reason for not adding a roof to Gillette Stadium during construction, he was an old school guy and football was meant to be played outdoors. Along the same line, why not Chicago? What about Pittsburgh? How about Green Bay? Each of these places has a special place in the history of the NFL and each could have a legitimate argument as to why they should host the big game.

As a parting thought, what about a neutral site like the Rose Bowl?
It’s warm (Pasadena, California), a huge stadium (it holds over 100,000 people) and has hosted several huge events, including the Super Bowl five times, the last in 1993. It seems like a legitimate and logical place to return to and host this huge event; I mean it has only been there five times. Look, I am all for hosting a Super Bowl in my city (Indianapolis is hosting the 2012 Super Bowl) but I also understand the fans wanting a warmer climate to cheer on their team. Plus a lot of cold weather cities aren’t going to get the chance; I mean who wants to go the Super Bowl in Cleveland? (Sorry Browns fans, but it’s the truth). If the NFL wants to have a neutral site, I say the Rose Bowl is the perfect place.

The NFL off-season. Those are words that any hardcore NFL fan dread to hear. Other than the draft and a few good weeks of free agent talk, the rest is filled with a lot of nothing, mostly filler stories and rumors that almost make that time tolerable, almost. And until training camp gets close, there generally isn’t much news involving individual teams, and if there is, it’s usually bad news, arrests and the like. That is unless you need to hear about mandatory workouts and when your new rookies and free agents start practicing; fantasy draft preparation starts early, you got to get your team ready, I get it. That is until Brett Favre decides he hasn’t heard about himself in the news lately. Brett Favre’s annual retirement talk starts and believe me the football world eats it up. Will he play this season? Will it be his last season? Will he come back next year? What is Brett Favre going to do next? And again the world waits in numb anticipation.

A little more than a decade ago, Brett Favre was the best quarterback in the NFL. He almost never lost at home and especially not on Monday night. If gambling were legal, I would have been a wealthy man, betting on Favre and the Packers to win. It was like he had ice in his veins, always came through in the clutch with the game on the line. He played hurt and he was a great leader for his team. Packer fans loved him and worshiped him equally, placing him on the highest pedestal. His status as a legend, particularly in Green Bay, Wisconsin was established and his Hall of Fame pass waiting to be stamped. Fast forward to his bitter-ending with the Packers and stints with two teams in two years and that guarantee of legend seems to fade with each season of contemplating retirement and refusing to let go. How the football world views him, has certainly diminished. Packer fans, in particular, have to be extremely bitter, since he should have retired as a Packer and then soon after goes to a long-time division rival, beating them on both occasions last season. I would have been ok with the choice of team had he acknowledged his long-time Packer fans, who as I stated earlier, treated him as a demi-god. But he didn’t. And that makes me mad and I am not even a Green Bay fan, so I can only image how they feel. Like a bitter divorce, only to pour salt in the wounds, simply one party saying to the other that the relationship meant nothing and that they had cheated the entire time. Betrayed is the only thought I have of the situation, like shades of Roger Clemens with the Boston Red Sox.

Lets dive into the Brett Favre retirement timeline a little further. Since 2006, Brett Favre has hinted at retirement. For the next two years he thought about retiring and then ultimately came back for one more season. Then in 2008, three months after a crushing defeat in the NFC championship to the Giants at Lambeau Field, decides that it is finally time to retire, stating he hasn’t got “anything left to give.” Later in the off-season, Favre decides he is having second thoughts and wants to play after all. Green Bay would not grant him his unconditional release, so he decides he wants to play for another team. A month later, he “unretires” and the Packers trade him to the Jets, paving the way for Aaron Rodgers to become the Packers starter. Favre becomes Jets starter, leads team to 9-7 record, but misses the playoffs. At the end of the season, he “retires” again and has surgery to repair a torn bicep. A few months later, even though contacted by a couple of teams decides to stay retired. However, two months later signs with Minnesota soon before the start of the 2009 season. After having one of his best statistical years of his career, he lost in the NFC championship to New Orleans. Now just recently he had surgery to repair his left ankle, injured in that championship game and faces four to six weeks of rehabilitation. He once again must decide whether or not he is coming back next season.

It’s now been four years of fence jumping for Favre deciding whether or not to hang ‘em up. So as you see, this started a few years ago and frankly I am tired of it. The Brett Favre retirement party committee has also had enough, they are tired of planning a huge bash that always gets canceled at the last minute. Favre recently told the Southern Mississippi baseball team that he would return to play one more season if they made it to the College World Series. So now he is pretending his return hinges on his latest proposition, something that has nothing to do with football?

Athletes are the most indecisive people on this planet, (or is Brett Favre just the extreme?) They just don’t know when to let go. It must be some type of extra DNA they have that the rest of us do not. They compete for a reason, for a purpose, for love of the game, it’s what they do, I get it. But why can they not let go? Is it the rush, like a addictive drug that you cannot get enough of? Is it the crowds of fans that cheer and chant your name, especially after a clutch play? Is it the competition, facing the best of the best every day? Believe me, I get all of that too, if I could play professional sports, I would. As a child, I wanted nothing else than to play baseball for a living. I guess letting go for an athlete is like accepting defeat, the one thing that they strive to avoid at all costs. As athlete, you want to leave the game on top, at the pinnacle of your profession, usually winning a championship, if at all possible.

Let’s not forget the media coverage of this anticipated event has also been ridiculous. Just a few years ago, Brett Favre was everywhere you looked, articles written galore. He was the topic on every sports radio and sports TV show. Everyone wanted to cover the event in some unique way. But it never happened. It started up again the following year and ended the same way, without a conclusion. Everyone wants to tell a similar tale of a legend. But is it getting to a moot point? Will media people actually care as much as they once did when this finally happens? What about the fans that still give him the benefit of a doubt? I would guess the list on both accounts is getting shorter.

So here we go again, we all must wait for Brett Favre to make a decision. Will he stay or will he go? To play or not to play, that is the question. And every other cliché you can say about it. I think it’s time to finally make up his mind. I know several people that will argue that he should be able to play as long as he wants, as long as he can still play. I say that answer is no, otherwise he would have kept the ball and ran to get a couple extra yards in the last drive in the fourth quarter of the NFC championship. He would have then called timeout, given his kicker a decent shot and probably booked a trip to Miami for the Super Bowl. But he didn’t. He forced the ball into coverage and was intercepted. Regulation ended and so did their season, as New Orleans won in overtime. That mental mistake is one he would never make, even if he is a gunslinger at heart. That to me means he is trying too hard to make the clutch play, rather than let the play come to him as he did in years past. You may say that it was just a mistake, but I see it as a sign. And actually, you can probably name a hand full of these in the past few years.

So the time has come to say goodbye. He was a great player that unfortunately can’t let go, and is tarnishing his legacy in the process. It’s a sad way to go out, but it has to be said. At least go out with dignity, Brett, make up your mind and quit teasing us. On behalf of the Brett Favre retirement party committee, let’s plan this party and get it over with.

Today’s society is very different than it’s predecessors. We want information right away, right now, instantly appearing before our eyes. We don’t have time to wait around for news, certainly no time to wait until tomorrow. Call it the internet generation. Instant information. This is definitely not the newspaper generation (we don’t have time for that), waiting for the news to be reported so we could read it tomorrow, that’s what your grandpa and your father did every morning at the kitchen table. Heck, I remember pouring over the sports page every day as a child, reading every box score and every stat of my favorite players, it was kind of a big deal. Before the internet, when you missed a ball game, the stats would not be available until a half of a day later; if you didn’t get the final score, then we would have to wait some more. Now I get a little miffed when my Wi-Fi connection is slow and web pages don’t load quick enough, oh, how times have changed.

This is why the internet, Facebook and Twitter and other forms of news and social media are so popular. Any news going on in the world can be found instantly. Particularly sports, are no different. Just think of the number of websites, blogs and even television channels devoted to sports 24/7. How many times a day do you look up scores, stats or even read articles about sports? I would say “several” is the answer most commonly stated, why, simple because we can. Why do they make phones that can stream live games, access the internet and allow you to manage your fantasy team? Simply because they can and that’s what people want. Again, it goes back to the “gotta have it now” mentality.

For example, I have a Facebook page, as several people do, and since sports are such a huge part of my life, several posts are dedicated to such things. I will comment on anything that I can form an opinion about, which team I am having fun watching at the moment, which team (or player) won or is winning that I despise (see Duke basketball) or anything else that hits some type of nerve. Just the other day, I had posted something relating to the NBA draft and not more than 10 or 15 minutes later, someone commented and thanked me for the news simply because they hadn’t heard it yet. It was a convenient way to get sports news without going to multiple sources. Wow, it was like a light bulb went off. People today don’t want to wait for the newspaper, they want instant access, whether it be via their phone, computer, or TV. People want the news and they want it right now, so who am I to keep it from you.

JaMarcus Russell cut by the Raiders.
The Raiders cut the former #1 draft pick from LSU after three difficult years with the club, as they have signed Jason Campbell from the Washington Redskins. If Jason Campbell replaces you, you are not very good. I mean if you can get an upgrade like that, you got to pull the trigger or maybe it’s because he won a total of seven games as a starter, which ever the reason. Now don’t feel bad for Russell, he made $39 million dollars in the process and isn’t going to starve anytime soon. But now he must start looking for a new job and I don’t believe there will be a lot of interest. Though through the rumor mill, the Colts are reportedly interested in bringing him in as a low risk, low salary back-up. Now, I can’t see this actually happening, the Colts just picked up an undrafted free agent quarterback, Russell is not a “character guy” like Polian likes and his work ethic is pathetic, that isn’t going to change and Coach Caldwell and the Colts with not put up with that.

I still feel that he was drafted so highly because of his showing in the 2007 Sugar Bowl against a Notre Dame team that had a horrible secondary and he picked them apart. I remember the hype in the months following that led to several “experts” (and I use that term loosely) to claim he was the next great quarterback. I thought that it was BS from the start and still believe that this never would have happened if Al Davis hadn’t died a few years ago. Wait…he’s still alive, somebody might want to check on him and just make sure. So I digress, the JaMarcus Russell experiment in Oakland has ended.

Ben Rothleisberger suspended for the first six games of the 2010 season.
Because of another off-season discretion, Big Ben will miss the first six games of the 2010 season. He allegedly sexually assaulted a 20-year-old college student in the bathroom of local college bar as his two bodyguards stood by while the incident occurred. You stay classy, Big Ben.

I think it’s time for Rothleisberger to grow up, act like a professional and how about stop trying to pick up random girls in college bars. Shouldn’t he be looking for someone with some sophistication? You can’t change a guy’s character, as much as you may want to, so it’s time to cut ties. You won two Super Bowl titles with him (though the defense should be credited for making this happen, it certainly wasn’t because he was QB), so what else can he do? He is an average quarterback that shows flashes of clutch and has always been surrounded by several playmakers. I still don’t believe that the Steelers didn’t go after a young quarterback in the draft, since now the choices for starting quarterback are either Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon. Well, at least for the first third of the season. I don’t see either of these guys winning many games, thus the chances of making the playoffs seem slim. So who is going to take the blame? That remains to be seen, but within the Steeler nation, missing the playoffs for the second straight year isn’t going to go over well, someone will be looking for work.

Pacman Jones signs with the Bengals.
Adam “Don’t call me Pacman anymore” Jones agreed to a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. This officially matches the player to the team that deserve each other, apparently in an attempt to set the league record for arrests and league suspensions, fighting for that top spot with the Dallas Cowboys. He did not play last season after being released by co-league leading trouble-makers Dallas, after the 2008 season. His five-year career has been filled with repeated arrests and suspensions, including being suspended for all entire 2007 season and six games in 2008 for violating NFL conduct policy. If he makes it a half season without trouble, I would be surprised. Certainly nothing can go wrong here.

Brian Cushing, Houston linebacker, suspended 4 games for PED’s.
The 2009 rookie defensive player of the year has been suspended by the NFL for 4 games for violating league rules by testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The odd part of this story is that he reported tested positive in September, but played the entire season before learning of the outcome. So my question is, why was he able to play last season, or why wasn’t he suspended for part of last season? It doesn’t make any sense.

The Associated Press even decided that they should revote for the award due to his positive test (He did “re-win” the award, though the vote was a lot closer than its initial voting). As a division opponent, his suspension helps the Colts, but I still do not understand the unusually slow testing process to determine player eligibility. The NFL needs to speed up this process, otherwise, why even have a policy in place if it is not going to be followed in a timely manner.

Colts 3rd round pick, Kevin Thomas injuries knee, may be out for the 2010 season.
The Colts are not without bad news this off-season. Colts third round draft pick, USC defensive back Kevin Thomas, sustained a knee injury during the final practice of the Colts rookie/undrafted free agent camp. He is scheduled to have surgery and could miss the 2010 season. This hurts the secondary, whose depth is already thin due to free agency and off-season moves. Let us hope that he is a fast-healer and that team Polian has found an undrafted rookie who is ready to step in, a la Jacob Lacey.

Hopefully now you are caught up with what’s going on in the NFL off-season thus far. So whether you read your news in the local newspaper or via the internet on your laptop with a Wi-Fi connection, the NFL, even in the off-season, has a lot going on. Let the countdown to training camp begin, summer is right around the corner.

I love the NFL draft for many reasons. After reading multiple mock drafts from “experts”, it is fun to see how many they actually guessed right, which usually isn’t many. Seeing it play out is fun, since every draft has a few guys who expect to go a lot higher than they do and the looks on their faces are nothing but priceless. Most teams are going to pick on best player available, others though go after specific skill positions and if no one is available when they are on the clock, they trade down or sometimes up or even roll the dice and bet it all gamble (see Tebow, Tim). Actually there is no real science to it, with every bust comes a hidden gem. You have to factor in character and team chemistry as one bad apple spoils the whole batch (insert your favorite team cancer here). But it’s also fun watching proud fathers realizing their son’s dream come true, proud mothers who can only cry with joy for these same son’s and especially girlfriends and/or baby mama’s that pretend like they didn’t just hit the lottery. Ok maybe that was mean, but you can’t tell me it doesn’t happen. The biggest reason though that I love the draft is that it means one real thing, the new NFL season is just around the corner and it’s been a long few months after a bitter defeat in the Super Bowl.

So with the 2010 NFL draft weekend concluded and the picks made, it’s time to welcome in the new season with the unofficial meet and greet of new faces that will be wearing the big blue horseshoe.

First let’s meet the draft picks…and with the thirty-first pick, the Indianapolis Colts select…Jerry Hughes from TCU. This is a great pick by the Colts; with Raheem Brock gone they needed another pass rusher and who better to learn from than Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. He listed as 6’ 2” and 255, had 26 ½ sacks in his final two seasons at Texas Christian, earned consensus All-American honors for last two consecutive seasons, recipient of Ted Hendricks Award (nation’s top defensive end) and Lott Trophy and finalist for Bronko Nagurski Trophy. He has great quickness and pass-rush moves…hmmm, sounds like someone we know. He is definitely going to be fun to watch.

Our second round pick, 63rd overall, is Pat Angerer, linebacker from Iowa. He is listed as 6’ 0” and 235, almost identical in size and style of play to his new mentor, Gary Brackett. He was a First-Team All-American choice by Football Writers Association of America and Football News, was consensus First-Team All-Big Ten choice and one of five finalists for Bronko Nagurski Trophy. He is a good tackler and good in pass coverage, so should fit right in to the Colts defensive scheme.

Our third round pick, 94th overall, is Kevin Thomas, cornerback from USC. He is listed as 6’ 0” and 192, great combination of size and speed, started 13 games at CB as a senior, had 57 tackles (34 solo) one sack, two forced fumbles and team-best 11 passes defended and was Second-Team All-Pac 10. He will add size to the corner position and should help especially with the loss of free agent Marlin Jackson.

Our fourth round pick, 129th overall, is Jacques McClendon, offensive guard from Tennessee. He is listed as 6’ 3” and 324; possesses a wide body, great size, and excellent strength. He is a three-time academic all SEC selection and apparently can bench press small foreign cars, setting a school record with 645 pounds. He should be able to add to the bulked up offensive line and help the run game improve dramatically.

Our fifth round pick, 162nd overall, is Brody Eldridge, tight end from Oklahoma. He is listed as 6’ 5” and 265 and is very versatile player who has also played guard, center and fullback during his college career. The Colts probably chose him for this very reason, we definitely could used a better blocking tight end and one who could line up at fullback, that is when Eric Foster isn’t.

Our seventh round pick, 238th overall is Ricardo Mathews, defensive lineman from Cincinnati. He is listed as 6’ 3” and 294, starting 13 games as a senior, made 44 tackles and 3 ½ sacks. He should continue to help bulk up the middle on the defensive line as well as possibly from the defensive end position.

Our next seventh round pick (compensatory), 240th overall, is Kavell Conner, linebacker from Clemson. He is listed as 6’ 0” and 242, a two-year starter and led team in tackles his final two seasons. Similar to his new mentor, Clint Session, and probably his back-up at weak-side linebacker.

Our final seventh round pick (compensatory), 246th overall, is Ray Fisher, cornerback and kick returner from Indiana. He is listed as 5’ 9” and 185, averaged 37.4 yards on 17 returns, two for TDs. I am hoping that he is finally the answer to the Colts return woes in past years instead of someone who is just thrown into the mix, even if that is all he does.

Also, the Colts have signed several undrafted players, including Javarris James, running back from the University of Miami (FL) and cousin of former Colt, Edgerrin James. Also agreeing to terms with the Colts were Tim Hiller, quarterback, Western Michigan; Brett Swenson, kicker and Blair White, wide receiver, both of Michigan State; Mike Newton, safety, Buffalo; Jeff Linkenbach, offensive tackle, Cincinnati; David Caldwell, safety, William & Mary; Vuna Tuihalamaka, linebacker, Arizona and Brandon King, cornerback, Purdue; Brandon James, kick returner, Florida and Thad Turner, cornerback, Ohio.

After looking at this class, other than a couple names, what comes to mind? No flash, no glitz, in other words, just like the Colts like it, just like Bill Polian likes it. This is how we do it every year, taking talented, athletic and smart character guys who work in our system. Even know I don’t know as much as I would like to about our new class, I trust team Polian. He rarely misses and when he does, it doesn’t set the team back for years. His player evaluations just come natural, like it’s in his blood. And now that he is grooming his son Chris as the heir to the GM throne, it seems the draft DNA will continue for several years.

Now with a new rookie class set to join the Colts for upcoming workouts and mini-camps, on behalf of Colts fans everywhere, let’s get ready for some football!

This post goes out to reader “betterd” for emailing and stating:

Where are u guys? … COME ON GET IT TOGETHER.

Well betterd, we hear you and everyone else loud and clear, believe me. It’s the off-season, as everyone painfully knows, and we’re doing some revamps to the site.   Sorry to fall out of the loop everyone, but we promise that we’re not dead.  Well, for the most part, we aren’t dead, though my lovelife is dead as usual… *single tear*

We’ve got some exciting shit on the block, including:

Downtown Indy Video Interviews

A weekly Podcast

A CONTEST EXTRAORDINNAIRE HOW THE F DO YOU SPELL EXTRAORDINNAIRE

And some other new and exciting content coming your way.

Also, Rick lost a bet a while back concerning our Facebook friends… and we’re going to make him pay.  So yeah, keep coming by, we’ll be up and running again… sometime soon.

There have been several changes around the Colts complex in the past couple weeks. Just to keep you up to date (because that’s what we’re here for), here are some of the random things to note:

The Colts have been awarded two additional compensatory draft picks in the 2010 NFL draft. They will receive two picks in the seventh round (nos. 240th and 246th overall) for losing two unrestricted free agents in Darrell Reid and Hunter Smith and without signing qualifying free agents prior to the 2009 season.

The Colts have announced several coaching changes this past week, covered nicely by Derek. Here are the highlights, Clyde Christensen has been promoted to offensive coordinator with Tom Moore now retaining the title of senior offensive assistant. Pete Metzelaars was promoted to line coach to replace the recently retired Howard Mudd and Jim Bob Cooter, was named an offensive assistant. Also a couple of new coaches have been added, Ron Turner, who will become wide receivers coach and Ron Prince will be come assistant offensive line coach.

Recently at the owners meetings in Orlando, Jim Caldwell had a few comments during his chat with the press. Here are some highlights (and my thoughts):

After recent neck surgery, QB Peyton Manning is in good shape and doing fine and won’t miss any off-season time (A sigh of relief was just let out all over Colts Nation). The offense will plan on using 4WR sets next year with Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie and Anthony Gonzalez (hopefully this will open up the offense and allow more of a run/pass balance). Both Bob Sanders and Anthony Gonzalez are progressing nicely from season ending injuries and both should be healthy to start off-season workouts (I can’t wait to have both back, we have missed you both) . And finally, as far as he is concerned the Super Bowl loss is behind them, you cannot analyze the game you lost and play the what-if game, and they are ready to move forward (I am ready to avenge the loss and meet again with Mr. Lombardi).

Here is a question for you, how is Dwight Freeney’s ankle? Since the season ended, there has been no news from the Colts regarding this subject. I guess “no news is good news” to borrow the phrase. As bad as Freeney’s ankle was prior to the Super Bowl, he did enough therapy to allow him to play. We saw the after effects of the second half, which due to a long halftime, saw the ankle stiffen and therefore making him less effective thereafter. I am sure after much needed rest, Freeney has continued his off-season training and should be expected to make a full recovery. We will keep an eye on this as training camp nears.

As the draft nears, here are a few thoughts. Who should the Colts draft with their picks? I say that they will be heavy on the offensive line and defense, particularly defensive end, linebacker and corner. Some possibilities, in no particular order or round chosen, include, Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers; Taylor Mays, S, USC; Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida; Charles Brown, T, USC; Daryl Washington, LB, TCU; Brandon Lang, DE, Troy; Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU. We will see if a few or any of these guys will be wearing a Colts jersey next year.

Finally, the NFL has changed the overtime rules for the playoffs, the proposal passed by the owners with a 28-4 vote (the Bills, Vikings, Ravens and Bengals voted against the proposal).

According to the new rule:

Both teams have a possession once during overtime, unless the team that wins the coin toss scores a touchdown on its possession, in which case it’s the winner. If the team that has the first possession scores a field goal, the other team will get a possession. If that team scores a touchdown on its possession, it is the winner. If that team score a field goal, the team that scores next by any means will be the winner. If the score is tied at the end of a 15-minute overtime, or if the overtime possession has not ended, another overtime will begin, and play will continue until a score is made, regardless of how many 15-minute overtime periods are necessary.

Hello our faithful readers.  I just wanted to update everyone on some interesting things we have in store for the 12th Horseman in the near future.

1) We’re looking to upgrade our site format.  We’ve been experiencing many problems with our current theme as many of you have expressed to us.  We’ve heard your cries loud and clear and are looking to actually dish out some cash to make this place top notch.

2) We’re looking to upgrade our staff.  Our first go around didn’t exactly pan out, with a bunch of no shows and noncommittals.  I’ve posted a few help wanted ads on our Facebook page, but haven’t had any hits on that.  If you or someone you know is a knowledgeable and passionate NFL fan and is literate, send them our way and we’ll check them out.

These two things (excuses) are the reason for my absence lately.  I’d like to commend Derek and Andrew for holding down the fort for the last week or so, you guys did a great job.  Now it’s my responsibility to get us all caught up.  Stay tuned.